Montclair State University receives anonymous $5 million donation

John O'Boyle/The Star-LedgerMontclair State University president Susan Cole speaking to faculty and students in 2008. The school last week received a $5 million anonymous donation, the largest such donation in its history.

An unnamed donor bequeathed $5 million to Montclair State University last week, the largest anonymous donation to ever be given to the school, officials said Wednesday.

"To say that we are immensely grateful for this kindness would entirely understate the matter," said university President Susan A. Cole in the release. "Scholarship funds are absolutely critical to the mission of the university, and we never have enough scholarships to meet the need of deserving students."

The donor designated $4 million of the donation to be used for scholarships for women and minorities. University spokeswoman Paula Maliandi said the funds can be utilized as early as for the 2009-10 school year.

The other $1 million were not designated for any particular use, and the university is free to use the funds for whatever use it needs necessary.

"There is a lot of need," said Maliandi.

In a message sent to the donor through a third-party representative, Cole thanked the donor, writing that about one third of Montclair State students come from families with incomes below $50,000.

The university has no further information about the donor, Maliandi said.